From AP today, on '08 Presidential hopefuls doing the grip'n'grin at the Iowa State Fair:

A pork chop on a stick is a typical candidate favorite — after all, Iowa tops all other states in pork production. But in 2003 it was a problem for one presidential candidate: Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an observant Jew. Barred by his religious beliefs from eating pork, he settled on a deep-fried Twinkie, taking a much-ballyhooed bite before declaring the confection "delicious."

Either he was a total opportunistic slug, in which case he deserved to lose, or he believes this, in which case he deserved to lose.

Lieberman has tremendous credentials, but he has be incredibly self centered -- he ran for both the Vice Presidency and the Senate -- to the possible detriment of his party. But what he's doing now is worse. First he runs as a Democrat, then for "Connecticut". Give me a break.

The Times has it right: "But this primary is not about Mr. Lieberman's legislative record. Instead it has become a referendum on his warped version of bipartisanship, in which the never-ending war on terror becomes an excuse for silence and inaction. We endorse Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary for Senate in Connecticut."

If I lived in Connecticut, I would be working hard for Lamont.

Of course, I can still mail a check from New Jersey to Connecticut -- great idea. :-)

Jenise wrote:So you've moved? Up the hill, down the street, to the next town, further out into the country, closer to civilization...what?

Not very far away, actually. Less than a quarter mile. But as you know, a quarter mile can make a lot of difference, sometimes.

We downsized, primarily, from an 11 room house, swimming pool and Yanigerian hot tub to a smaller site.

Also, to be frank, I wanted to move from the county-zoned, anything-goes, what rules? environment to a more regulated environment---something I never thought this uber-liberal child of the 60s would even contemplate. So now I live in one of those 'planned communities'.

Hoke wrote:Stuart: I know what to serve for apps the next time you come over.

Actually, since I've moved, it'll be the first time you come over here.

(Alas, no hot tub though.)

Hoke really wanted to move to Napa. Now I signed a letter of recommendation but we couldn't find three other local residents to co sign.
I'm in complete accord with Jenise that Lieberman should get a job in the private sector and shut his mouth already.

I wish I could rremember, however since the one time I did try one was in my younger college days of wine, women, and song (not necesarilly in that order, and more often rotgut whiskey than wine) about the only way I know that I did try one is that one of my fraternity brothers has a picture on me eating it. And since this was before the days of Adobe Photoshop . . .

Still, it couldn't possibly be any worse than deep fried pickles, deep fried Snicker bars, or any of a hundred other horrors Southern Rednecks have come up with.

Jenise wrote:So you've moved? Up the hill, down the street, to the next town, further out into the country, closer to civilization...what?

Not very far away, actually. Less than a quarter mile. But as you know, a quarter mile can make a lot of difference, sometimes.

We downsized, primarily, from an 11 room house, swimming pool and Yanigerian hot tub to a smaller site.

Also, to be frank, I wanted to move from the county-zoned, anything-goes, what rules? environment to a more regulated environment---something I never thought this uber-liberal child of the 60s would even contemplate. So now I live in one of those 'planned communities'.

And you know what? So far, I'm loving it.

Having a big development right up against the property line can do that to a person. Especially an inveterate nude sunbather such as yourself.

You made me laugh, Hoke. Downsizing, planned community...it catches up with all of us eventually, doesn't it? You're in good company. Five five years ago I'd have bet you money that I'd never live in a Security-gated community. Well, here I am! And after three years, I'm almost over being embarrassed about it. Oh, and I even have a golf cart to zoom around in--how dangerously old-farty/mainstream is that?

Anyway, congrats on your new home. May you sleep well at night.

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

Ack! No gate, Bob!!! It is an 'over 55' community', with single homes, but no gates and guards.

The primary reason for the move was downsizing, with a secondary motivation to be in a more controlled environment. The county of Sonoma, where my previous house was, had no real rules against parking, noise, number of occupants per house (as in 9 people living in a three bedroom house, with said nine people consisting of three generations, and some of them not family related and transient), excess traffic, etc. The new community has CC&Rs that deal with that--without being fascist about it.

I much prefer sitting on my patio, looking at the vineyards and the Sonoma hills in the evening, sipping wine, and not having to listen to a neighbor's hip-hop music reinforced with a boom box. Call me an old fart; I can handle it.

The other reason, of course, was to cash in on the windfall of house prices that is available now (even with the general downturn).

"Ack! No gate, Bob!!! It is an 'over 55' community', with single homes, but no gates and guards."

All good thinking in my book, Hoke. Janet and I considered that approach, but she loves building, so we built our own resort to retire in -- every toy we could think of. :-)

I asked about the gated community because we looked at a second home in Las Vegas area awhile back. Almost all of them were gated and walled, which struck me negatively. I talked to a police chief, who told me that the walls and gates don't provide much protection. In fact, by cutting down lines of sight, burglars were able to break into buildings with relative impunity.

Your approach makes lots of sense; we've spent the day moving a new shed into place to replace our first, cheaper version. Would have preferred to go hiking, frankly. But we've been really happy with our decision so far. :-)

Ditto. I bought our house in spite of it, not because of it. I'm surprised that after three years it does feel like an asset--no door to door solicitors is at the top of that list. There's a strong sense of extended family here and greater trust among neighbors, and the time or two I've accidentally left the garage door open I've breathed a sigh of relief because I know the gate DOES keep the casual marauders and lookiloo traffic away.

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

A pork chop on a stick is a typical candidate favorite — after all, Iowa tops all other states in pork production. But in 2003 it was a problem for one presidential candidate: Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an observant Jew. Barred by his religious beliefs from eating pork, he settled on a deep-fried Twinkie, taking a much-ballyhooed bite before declaring the confection "delicious."

Either he was a total opportunistic slug, in which case he deserved to lose, or he believes this, in which case he deserved to lose.

I'm kinda surprised that no one has commented on the similarities between Lieberman and a Twinkie - both kinda nondescript beige on the outside and all squishy inside.